PiggyMalone

Best case :

* No set up fee.

* 30GB mobile data

* topup can be done in English (online or phone app)

* reasonable signal coverage

* minimal phone bloatware


thanks!

wellinever

Main mobile operators in PT are MEO, NOS, Vodafone.
Check their websites for plans.
Data signal varies greatly depending on location.
Buy a mobile sim (inc data) from each and try where you are.

EG where I am no signal at all on Vodafone, NOS..very limited hardly 4g, MEO reasonable but very inconsistent.
If I lived 500 mtrs near the town my signal is loads better on all carriers, inc Vodafone.

PiggyMalone

Very informative, thanks for that. I didn't realise there would be such a difference between providers, in terms of signal strength!

wellinever

In my experience signal is pretty good in most towns/cities, but can vary a great deal outside. Often they use the same masts, hence an all or nothing location dependant. But that is much the same in most countries I suspect.

PiggyMalone

/using hte same mast /

does this suggest that there's little point in buying more than one SIM card?

bons

We use WOO, 10 e per month top up, pay as you go. We have data, but don't watch videos etc. so it works for us. I don't know if you'd have to pay more for more data. We get a text when it's due for renewal and we can top up at shops showing 'pay shop'. It works fine in most places but does dip in and out in Mountainous areas, sometimes more rural areas. I don't know if other companies are like that.

riv

I believe you can check signal strength on the companies' websites for specific postcodes ?

You could do that from, eg, a public library internet connection. And / or in the stores of the particular companies in shopping centres and so on.

When I am in Portugal, which is not all the time, I use NÓS 's payg data only system. It used to be called 'Kanguru' but I think now has a different name. But the staff in the store ( all speak excellent English ) will know what you mean.

For €15 ( can be topped up at a multibanco once you have purchased the sim in~store ) you get 15 days' worth of completely unlimited data. So far I have found it to be really unlimited ( somewhat to my surprise ) as I use it for Netflix and other internet based TV / films / Youtube / Filmin and so on most evenings. For a Euro a day this seems a great bargain to me, esp. as there is zero commitment.

If you put the simcard in a smartphone ( which you then use as a hub at home ) you can also carry it around with you for emailing and any other internet access on the move.

NB: this offering does not, as such, include voice calling. But you can always use Skype for that.

coleio

We found that If you want mobile interwebs and not interested in phone/txt then using something like Huawei Mobile Broadband WiFi Router stuffed at the highest point inside the roof can get amazing results where an mobile phone didn't.

PiggyMalone

Useful, thank you!